A/N: I realized that I had forgotten to add in the disclaimer in the first chapter. I guess I was a bit too eager to post it. But, since I haven't used anyones material until this chapter, it's all good. So, without further ado, here is the required disclaimer:
I only own my OC and my storyline, everything else belongs to Walt Disney Pictures and Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Chapter 2
Zoe could feel the sun warming her where she lay on her side. The smell of earth and vegetation was strong and caused her nose to twitch involuntarily. A breeze flowed over her keeping her from being too hot and, while it felt good, still felt different.
Her body spasmed when, in her mind, she heard a loud explosion followed by the sounds of breaking glass and rending metal. The feeling of somersaulting, spinning, flooded her and she gasped, now fully awake. She could remember that she died in a car accident but it was all very fuzzy, almost like she'd watched it happen to someone else. But she seemed to be alive now. Then she remembered. She died and woke up somewhere else, somewhere bright. There had been people there. She was supposed to be reborn. This didn't seem like being born again. It felt like she'd simply fallen asleep and woke up... here. Wherever 'here' was.
She tried to open her eyes but they didn't seem to want to cooperate. She tried to move her limbs, but they reacted the same way. That is, not at all. Normally, Zoe would panic in a situation like this, but for some reason she was calm. The wind shifted slightly and caused her left ear to twitch. Well, if my ear can twitch then I'm not paralyzed She thought. Zoe felt her ear twitch again and she noticed that there was something just on the edge of her hearing, someone talking. It was too faint to make out what they were saying, but it was definitely more than one person talking.
The voices were getting louder, which meant they must be getting closer. Straining, she could make out that there were at least three, maybe four voices. Three seemed younger than the other one, parent with their kids maybe? Zoe struggled harder, trying to make her body move to no avail. Even trying to just open her eyes seemed insurmountable.
The voices had gotten close enough that she could now make out the words spoken, if just barely. "... Have to do it now?" One of the younger voices was saying.
"Yeah! We wanna go swimmin'." Another young voice.
"Because Pa said we need to check the irrigation system in the pumpkin patch and he told me to bring all of you along to see how it's done. It won't be too long before every one of you will have to start helping out around the farm." That was the older voice. Not old, definitely male though. Older brother?
"Ah don wanna help out on tha farm. I wanna cook in tha kitchen!" Another younger voice, higher pitched, maybe female. The voices continued getting louder. They were, without a doubt, coming in her direction.
Zoe tried harder to move her body without success as the group came closer. The voices sounded like they were right on top of her when she heard a gasp.
"Sammy! Looka there! Who is that?"
"I don't know Carl. Stay here!"
"Sammy, they're naked!" Said the one that wanted to go swimming.
I'm naked! Oh gods! How come I'm naked? Zoe could hear one of them approach her. She struggled to be able to move. Naked, in front of a guy! She could feel her cheeks start burning. When it sounded like they, Sam, was right on top if her she heard him ask "Um, hello? Gods! You're female!"
Zoe heard a rustle before feeling something covering her.
"Is she dead?" Asked the voice that wanted to cook.
"I don't think so. Just stay there. Fred, I want you to run back to the house and let Mom and dad know, we may need an ambulance. Go!" Zoe heard rapid footsteps retreating as Sam started to check to see if she was alright. As soon as he touched her, Zoe's eyes sprang open and she could see. She gasped as if she hadn't been breathing until then. She could see a brown blur as Sam jumped back out of her line of sight as well as hear his gasp.
"Miss? Are you alright?" Sam asked.
Zoe tried hard to answer. She would have sagged in relief if she could when she was able to make her jaw move. Her throat was dry but she was able to croak out "Help... Me."
"Someone will be here soon miss!"
Someone, she guessed it was Sam, moved into her line of sight again and what she saw startled her. It was a paw. A brown paw to be exact, rotating her one eye to try and look up, she could see more. A leg, a leg covered in brown fur.
"Paw" Zoe gasped out.
"I'm sorry miss, I don't know who your pa is, but we'll get you help okay?"
Zoe had no choice but to lay there. She remembered that she would be suited to this place. Maybe that was why she wasn't freaking out that some creature, some person, was talking to her. Was she in Narnia? The younger kids were talking amongst themselves but Zoe wasn't listening. She was trying hard to get her body to move. After what seemed like hours, she felt her legs move. Heartened, she kept trying and was finally able to move her arms some.
"Miss? What are you trying to do? How can I help?"
Bless him. "Up...please."
"Up? You want to sit up?"
Zoe grunted her affirmative and she felt hands, or rather, paws help her up into a sitting position. Her head felt a little funny, as if it was heavier than she remembered. Zoe was able to move her head so that she had a good look at Sam.
Sam was a bunny rabbit. A cute bunny rabbit in a pair of jeans. A cute bunny rabbit that was about fifteen years old or so from what she could guess. Sam wasn't wearing a shirt.
Zoe looked down. Actually, she just stopped trying to hold her head up and just let it fall. She was wearing a tan and white checkered shirt, Sam's. She could see that her torso not covered by the shirt was covered by... fur. She had fur. It was short, black, and silky. When the sun hit her fur, it shone.
She also noticed that what her boobs weren't quite as large as they were when she was human. Zoe held her hands up in front of her eyes and realized that she no longer had hands, instead, she had paws. Yep, she was an animal of some sort. Sam was looking at her a little funny as she checked herself out.
"Miss? Can you see me?" Sam waved his paw back in forth in front of her eyes.
Zoe reflexively jerked her head back and said "Yes. Name... is... Zoe."
"Zoe," He repeated, "nice to meet you Miss Zoe. How'd you end up in our pumpkin patch?" Zoe groaned.
"Don't know." It was getting easier to talk and move. Her head still felt a little heavy so she ran her paws over it and found ears. Big, long, ears. Bunny ears. She was now a bunny with short, black, silky fur. Well, lack of freaking out meant that she was suited to this reality. She didn't know why that was, but she just seemed to know. She turned her head to look at the young voices from earlier and could see two very cute little bunnies, maybe five or six years of age.
One dressed like his brother, the other in a cute little sun dress. Zoe had an irrational urge to grab them and cuddle with them. However, when she had looked over, they both gasped.
"Her eyes!" The little girl rabbit exclaimed, her paws flying up in front of her face.
Zoe was confused. What did the little girl mean by 'her eyes'? She could see just fine. She wiped her paws over her eyes and then looked at the pads but there was nothing unusual, no blood or pus. Zoe looked back to Sam. He had warm brown eyes that made you feel like he as a very gentle person. "What's wrong with my eyes?"
Sam suddenly looked nervous and, while it frightened her slightly, she still had a serene feeling.
"I think that you need to be seen by a doctor Miss Zoe."
"That's not a good sign." Zoe sighed.
She as feeling stronger the longer she sat on the ground, more in control of herself. She noticed that, with everything that had happened and what she'd discovered so far about herself and her surroundings, that it didn't bother her very much. It was like there was a filter that she experienced things through. That she could determine how strongly she wanted the feelings and such to affect her.
"Well, thanks anyway Sam."
Sam smiled and said "You're very welcome Miss Zoe."
"Just Zoe please."
Sam assumed a rueful grin and said "Nah. If I did that, Mom would be in a right fit."
"You have my permission Sam. And I'll tell your Mom that I said so."
About that time they heard a vehicle drive up a fair distance away. Zoe guessed by the absence of engine noise that it was some type of electric car. She waited patiently as she heard them get closer and closer until finally she caught sight of them. Two rams in police uniforms. While this would normally make her very nervous, she didn't seem to feel that effect. She seemed calm, almost as if she was in a Zen like state.
Both officers stopped upon sighting her before continuing where she was sitting. One of the officers, Officer Baaker by the name tag on his uniform, knelt down next to her, took out a small pad and a pen, and asked "Ma'am? Are you okay? Do you have any injuries?"
Zoe shook her head, enjoying the way her ears seemed to flop around, so it was with a smile she said "I'm okay. I don't think I'm injured. I just woke up here a little while ago. Shortly before Sam and his family found me."
"What's your name Miss?"
"Zoe Bree Miller"
Officer Baaker waved his hoof in front of her eyes and asked "Can you see me Ms. Miller?"
Zoe reached out and grabbed his hoof, looked him in the eyes and said "Yes, I can see you and I wish people would stop doing that. I'm not blind."
The officer seemed a bit startled before continuing. "Where are you from Ms. Miller?"
"I was born and raised in Athens, Georgia"
That caused the partners to look at each other before Officer Baaker brought his attention back to her. "How old are you Ms. Miller?"
"I just turned 13."
"Where are your parents?"
"They survived."
Again the two looked at each other, but now they seemed concerned. "What was it that they survived?"
"The accident."
Zoe's ears swiveled when she heard another vehicle approach. Another electric vehicle. It seems to be a theme here, good for them. At this point, the other officer, Officer Hornsby, said "We'll need to finish this down at the station."
Curiously, Zoe asked "Am I under arrest?"
She had woken up on someone's property completely naked after all, so the question wasn't entirely unreasonable.
"No ma'am. We just need to do a complete interview."
Two more mammals walked up. One was a tapir and the other was an ocelot. They wore uniforms also but more like work uniforms. The logo on their polo style shirts read "Emergency Medical Transport."
Officer Baaker rose to his hooves as the ocelot knelt down. "Hello miss. I'm Medic Michael, feel free to laugh. Let's check you out real quick okay?"
Zoe liked him immediately, she giggled and said "Okay, but just so you know I'm not blind."
She saw his whiskers twitch when she said that so she added "Why does everyone keep asking me that question?"
Michael was taken aback. "You mean you don't know?" Zoe shook her head. Michael reached into his emergency kit and took out a dental mirror and then handed it to Zoe.
"Thank you." She said and then looked in the mirror. She then understood why everyone was thinking she was blind. Still in her serene state she gave no indication about how startled she was. While her fur was black as midnight, her eyes were white on white. There was no color to either her iris or her pupil. If you looked close you could see where they were supposed to be but beyond a foot or two, they looked pure white. Zoe was sure they made her look very strange. The only reaction anyone saw her give was when she said "How interesting."
Michael then started taking her vitals such as temp, blood pressure, pulse, and respirations. He even used a tongue depressor and looked down her throat. He said "sorry" before using his pen light to check her eyes and have her follow the pen with her eyes while she kept her head still.
"Well," he said finally "looks like you're a normal, healthy bunny. But, if you notice anything unusual happening, you start getting any pains or such, get to a hospital okay?"
Zoe smiled at Michael and said "I will. Thank you for everything Michael, I appreciate it!"
Michael smiled back and patted her head, which she didn't mind but thought she was a little old for that kind of thing.
Officer Baaker helped her stand and braced her until she got her balance.
She turned to Sam "Thank you Sam. I'll get your shirt back to you as soon as I can okay?"
Sam smiled at her and said "Don't worry about it none Miss Zoe. You take care of yourself okay?"
"I will Sam. I hope to see you again!"
"Bye Miss Zoe!"
The officers escorted Zoe to their patrol car that was parked on a dirt road about a quarter of a mile from where she was found. On the walk back, Zoe was looking around at the scenery. There were plots of farmland for as far as she could see, but also some hills and mountains further away. There were areas that were still forested. The air smelled clean and the skies were clear. It felt like home.
After getting to the station, Officer Hornsby went to find her some clothes that would fit her while Officer Baaker interviewed her. He sat her in a chair by his desk while he typed the information he'd already gotten from her into his computer. It was an old desktop with an ancient looking CRT screen instead of the more desirable flat screen monitors.
Once he'd finished that, he would ask her a question and then type her answer into his computer. This went on for almost thirty minutes with a break only for her to change into some clothes that Officer Hornsby had found. They were a little large on her and they were boy clothes, but at least she didn't have to try to cover herself constantly.
Officer Hornsby was leaning over and reading the screen over Officer Baaker's shoulder. After entering the last bit of information both officers, as well as Zoe, waited for the results. About thirty seconds Zoe could tell the information popped up on their screen because both officers eyebrows rose so high. They looked at each other before Officer Baaker turned to her.
"Ms. Miller. According to the answers you've given us, you are what we call an Entry. An Entry is a person that shows up suddenly that wasn't born here. We don't know why they appear, they just do. The last Entry on record was a little over a hundred years ago. They were a male tiger. His name was unpronounceable, just a series of consonants."
Something tickled the back of Zoe's memory, she didn't remember the words, but she did remember the intent "We're here because we're needed."
The rams both tilted their heads and Hornsby asked "How do you know that?"
Zoe shrugged, remembering that her parents said she wasn't supposed to be sharing her abilities. But did that hold true anymore? She'd have to think about it later. "I just know things sometimes."
Deciding not to press her on it, Baaker continued. "Okay, well, you showed up on one of the Hopps farms, they're one of the biggest agricultural combines in the area. You are in Bunnyburrow, which is outside of Zootopia, the largest metropolis within a thousand miles. Today is the twenty-second day of March, 624. Now, every other Entry we've had has been an adult. Normally, we'd get an assessment of their skills and then match them where their skills and species would be most useful."
Hornsby broke in again "The tiger was an engineer and helped set up the rain system in the Rainforest District."
Baaker nodded, not minding the interruption. "True. And that presents us with a problem... what do we do with you? You aren't old enough to go out on your own yet, and you have no guardians. The only thing I can think of would be to put you in Bunnyburrow Orphanage until you're adopted or you come of age in a few years."
Zoe quietly contemplated what she'd just been told. The old Zoe would have been a wreck, upset, possibly blubbering. But now, she seemed to be able to calmly accept what was happening. "I understand. When will I be leaving? And could you please make sure that Sam get's his shirt back?"
Both rams were surprised at how tranquilly she could accept everything that had happened so far. From the reports they'd read about the tiger Entry, he'd gone berserk and destroyed a great deal of property before he'd calmed down enough to be reasonable.
Softly, and with a bit more compassion than what he'd shown her already, Baaker said "We won't be able to do anything today except fill out the paperwork. We can take you over in the morning after breakfast. That means you'll have to stay here tonight. In an unlocked cell."
Again, a serene reply "Okay. Thank you for your help." Inside, Zoe was still processing everything. Well, she was supposed to be here for a reason, so she'd just throw herself into the hands of fate and let it carry her to where she was supposed to be.
They escorted her to one of the cells. It wasn't too bad. A small bed on a metal frame that was bolted to the floor and the wall. A sink, and a toilet that was visible to anyone that could walk by. That would be problematical to say the least. After promising to bring her dinner, they left her to her own devices.
Zoe sat on the cot and looked around the cell. There was nothing else to mention, no shelves, no books, nothing. So, with nothing to do, Zoe sat and thought about everything she could remember. About her new demeanor. She loved the serene feeling she had now. She thought about how cute Sam looked and how adorable his younger siblings were. Yeah, she'd already adapted to this new reality. Or, at least, she'd started to. As far as her gifts went, she knew that they were the reason she was here. She didn't understand exactly how she knew, but sometimes, she just knew things.
When she first started noticing things she took it in stride, at least until she found out that not everyone could do the same things. When she'd gotten older, she researched her gifts on the Internet. Medium, Clairivoyent, Psychometry. And, since her gifts were needed, she would need to use them. Zoe was much happier now that she no longer needed to keep her abilities a secret.
Since they left the cell door open, probably so that she wouldn't freak out at being treated like a prisoner, Zoe decided to explore. The station wasn't like anything she'd seen on TV or imagined. It didn't have multiple floors or even a modern look to it. She'd have thought that it looked like something from the turn of the century except for the modern filing cabinets and the computers on the desks.
Other than the desks, there was a small table with a coffee maker and accessories, a small table that could seat two, and a bulletein board with notes attached along with one wanted poster. Officers Baaker and Hornsby were sitting down talking about some sports event from earlier in the week. They looked up when she walked into the office area.
"Everything okay Ms. Miller?" Hornsby asked.
"Just kinda bored, there's nothing to do in the cell."
"We're sorry Ms. Miller, we didn't think." Hornsby said as Baaker opened one of his desk drawers and started rummaging through it.
"It's okay, and please, call me Zoe."
"Thank you Zoe, I'm Edgar and the slob going through his desk is Walter."
"Hey!" Walter protested as he brought up a small stack of magazines, "I'm getting the lady something to read here!"
Zoe smiled "I don't think it would be respectful if I called you by your first names though."
"We're country cops Zoe, we don't stand much on formalities around here." Walter said as he placed the magazines in front of her.
"These are True Crime magazines. Someone in Zootopia got the bright idea of writing stories about crimes that actually happened. It kinda makes you feel like you're right there when it happened."
Smiling, Zoe said "Okay then Walter, thank you for the magazines."
Walter smiled back as he said "No problem Zoe. Dinner will be here in about an hour. Mrs. Hopps is bringing over some vegetable stew, sound okay?"
Zoe thought it sounded great and said so. She waved bye as she walked back to her cell, laid down on the little bed, and started reading.
Zoe was pulled from the stories when someone banged on the open cell door causing her to look up. It was Walter who was grinning at her "I've been trying to get your attention for the last thirty seconds Zoe. Mrs. Hopps brought the vegetable stew so let's eat!"
"I'm sorry Walter, it's just that these stories are so interesting!"
"Aren't they though? I've been reading stories like that since I was little. They're what made me want to become a cop."
Zoe put the magazine down on the bed and got up to go eat. Her stomach was definitely making it's displeasure known at having been ignored for so long. Zoe followed Walter back to the office area. When they entered Zoe noticed a rather matronly looking rabbit that appeared to be in her mid to late 40's. She saw the slightly shocked expression on the lady's face and both saw and heard her gasp. Zoe was almost certain that it was because of her eyes.
Zoe lowered her eyelids and looked at the floor "I'm sorry Mrs. Hopps. I know my appearance is a little unsettling because of my eyes. And I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused you for being in your pumpkin patch."
"Oh no, don't apologize." Mrs. Hopps said as she waved her paws back and forth in front of her torso. "There was no trouble at all and you'd think that I could handle things better at my age."
"That's okay Ma'am. I expect I'll be getting a lot of strange looks in the future."
Trying to make an embarrassing situation a little less so, Edgar decided that introductions were in order.
"Mrs. Hopps, this is Zoe Bree Miller. Zoe, this is Mrs. Hopps."
Still a little embarrassed, Mrs. Hopps suggested they sit down and eat. She reached into the huge picnic style basket that was on Edgar's desk and pulled out a large, sealed container. The stew was ladled into four bowls and then Mrs. Hopps pulled out spoons for everyone. Edgar and Walter sat at their desks to eat while Zoe and Mrs. Hopps sat at the table.
Zoe had one spoonful and closed her eyes in delight. The stew was so flavorful, the sauce was rich and thick, bringing out the taste of the vegetables. And the vegetables had just the right amount of crunch to them. Zoe had to compliment Mrs. Hopps on the stew.
"Mrs. Hopps, this stew is amazing!" she said as she took another bite.
Mrs. Hopps puffed up a bit in pride and she grinned "I'm glad you like it Dear!" then she paused and hesitantly asked "Do you know how you ended up in our pumpkin patch?"
Zoe gave a half shrug as she shook her head. She didn't really know how she ended up in the pumpkin patch, but she felt she owed Mrs. Hopps an explanation. "I don't really know how I ended up there. I died, then I was in a place with a lot of light, and then I woke up in your pumpkin patch just before your son Sam found me."
When Zoe mentioned that she had died, Mrs. Hopps jerked upright with a look of horror on her face. "Oh you poor thing! You died? You really died? How old are you?"
"I had just turned thirteen a couple of weeks before it happened."
Mrs. Hopps face suddenly morphed into an expression of sympathy, unshed tears in her eyes over what had happened to Zoe at such a young age.
Edgar interrupted from where he sat, "Mrs. Hopps, Zoe here is what we call an Entry. They appear occasionally with a past very similar to what Zoe has described. We find them a place to stay and a job. They all seem to settle in very well."
"But what about Zoe? She hasn't reached reached the age of Ascension yet. What's going to happen to her?"
Before either ram could reply, Zoe spoke up "I'm sorry, but what's the age of Ascension? I've never heard of it."
Bonnie seemed shocked so Walter explained "Zoe, the age of Ascension is the age you decide what career path you want to take. That decision will determine what classes you take in your secondary education. The actual age of Ascension varies between species. For rabbits such as yourself, it would be 16."
Zoe nodded her understanding "Thank you Walter, that helps. So that means I have to stay at the orphanage until then?"
"Orphanage!?" Mrs. Hopps practically shouted "Not a chance! Stu and I will adopt her!"
Zoe's calm demeanor slipped at that point. Her jaw dropped open with Mrs. Hopps declaration. This lady that had just met her was offering to adopt her! Zoe's heart melted.
"B... b...but I wouldn't want to cause problems Mrs. Hopps. I appreciate it, I really do! But I woudn't want to be a burden."
Mrs. Hopps looked at her "Nonsense! What's this talk about being a burden? The Hopps family is a clan! We take care of each other!"
Zoe wasn't sure what she meant by a clan. To her, clans were this huge group of people that were basically extended family.
"Um, how big is your clan?" Zoe asked hesitantly.
Mrs. Hopps grinned and said "At last count, including the grandchildren, 268."
Zoe's jaw dropped again. She knew bunnies could make a lot of other bunnies, but... wow!
Edgar laughed at her expression "Zoe, Mrs. Hopps here is famous in the area for her fertility."
Mrs. Hopps was able to look both embarrassed and proud of her accomplishment.
"268." Zoe repeated. "
Yes! So you'll have plenty of brothers and sisters to help you out. You will have chores, but nothing too bad I promise."
"268." Zoe said again.
Edgar laughed "I think you broke her Bonnie!"
"Yes. With the grandchildren and cousins and such. So what do you say Zoe? Would you like to become part of our family?" Bonnie asked with her heart in her eyes.
Still stunned, Zoe simply nodded and said "Okay."
All three adults got pleased expressions on their faces and, with the matter settled, went back to eating.
After dinner, Walter tore up the paperwork from earlier and threw it away. He typed up a new set showing Zoe being adopted into the Hopps household.
As Mrs. Hopps and Zoe got ready to leave, Zoe gave both Edgar and Walter hugs and thank you's. Walter told her she could keep the magazines.
Zoe followed Mrs. Hopps outside to where she had parked the truck. Zoe could read "Hopps Family Farms" painted on the side of the truck. It wasn't new, but it was in good shape. Mrs. Hopps put the empty picnic basket in the bed of the truck as Zoe climbed into the passenger side. She put on her seatbelt and then placed the magazines on her lap. On top of the magazines, Zoe put the shirt Sam had given her. She was happy that she'd be able to return it to him personally. Zoe waved bye as Mrs. Hopps started the truck and began driving home.
A/N: Okay, Chapter 2 done! It's always a bit difficult when you start a new story because you have to do back story, set the scene, and things like that before you get to the really fun stuff. Not if you're doing canon I guess, but for me who likes to do OC's, it's like peeling an orange, got to remove the peel before you get to the juicy bits!
I know I used the name Zoe in my other Zootopia story. When I used it then, it was just because I liked the name. In this story, I actually looked up name meanings to try and find one that fit the character I wanted to develop. After going through several different names (I had originally thought of "Mia", but that name just means "mine") I found out that Zoe actually means "life" so, hey, let's go with it!
I hope y'all are enjoying my story. It makes me feel good when you do! Also, just to let you know, this will be a polyamory fic.
Speaks With Spirits signing off